Written by the Progyny Editorial Team. Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg — June 2025.
Screen time is part of everyday life — especially for school-age kids — who often use devices both at home and in the classroom. Social media may become part of the mix, too. As a parent, it’s helpful to know what’s age-appropriate and how to guide your child’s screen use in a healthy, balanced way.
Set limits on screen time
Help your child build healthy screen habits by setting clear boundaries:
- Make time each day for screen-free fun, such as reading, playing outside, doing crafts, or just being silly together. Try creating screen-free zones, like the dinner table, or setting aside one full day each week with no devices.
- Keep homework time focused by turning off TVs and putting phones away.
- Wind-down time matters, too. Aim to turn off screens at least an hour before bed so everyone can rest better.
- Have your child charge their phone or tablet outside of their bedroom overnight.
- Parental control apps can also help you manage what they see online, when they can be on it, and time limits.
- Ask your child to keep their door open when using screens — especially when they’re online.
Encourage digital literacy
Help your child become a smart and confident digital citizen:
- Talk with them about the kinds of things they might come across online. It could be violence, ads, fake information, sexual content, or content meant to mislead people.
- Keep the conversation open. Let your child know they can always come to you with questions or concerns about anything they see or hear online.
- Teach them to think critically. Ask things like, “Do you think everything online is true?” or “Why do you think someone posted this?”
- Explain that not everything they see online is fact. A lot of content is based on opinion — or made to get attention, make money, or push a certain message.
- Help them understand the difference between search engines, AI tools, and chatbots, and show them how to use each one safely and responsibly.
Teach digital citizenship
Digital citizenship means using technology in a safe, respectful, and responsible way. You can help your child build these skills when you:
- Talk about the importance of avoiding suspicious links, being careful with people they don’t know online, and speaking up if something feels wrong or uncomfortable.
- Teach them to keep personal information private, like their full name, address, school, and password. Help them understand that once something is shared online, it’s hard and sometimes impossible to take it back.
- Encourage them to treat others kindly online, just like they would in person. Make sure they know they can come to you if they’re being bullied — or if they see it happening to someone else.
- Explain that everything they post, comment on, or like leaves a trace. Remind them to think before they share and about how their online actions might be viewed now and later.
Set social media boundaries
Kids are often curious about social media before they’re truly ready for it. Most platforms don’t allow users under 13. Some may try to join early, so it’s helpful to stay involved and informed. Here’s how you can support your child:
- Talk about cyberbullying. Explain what it is, how it can happen, and what to do if they experience or witness it. Make a plan together so they know they’re not alone.
- Stay involved. Set up parental controls and check in regularly about what apps they’re using, who they’re interacting with, and what kind of content they’re seeing. It might feel tricky, but your guidance really matters here.
- Talk about permanence. Remind your child that once something is shared — whether it’s a photo, video, or comment — it can be hard or impossible to completely remove. Even deleted posts can sometimes be saved or shared by others.
- Discuss the consequences. Help them understand that sharing inappropriate content can hurt themselves or others. It may have lasting effects, including future school or job opportunities.
By implementing these practices, you can help your child develop healthy and responsible digital media habits while still enjoying the benefits that technology offers.
If you have questions or concerns, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.